Maternal vitamin D status during pregnancy influences childhood bone mass

New research shows that pregnant mothers with inadequate vitamin D levels may negatively influence the long-term bone health of their children.

Vitamin D status is often poor in women of childbearing age, and evidence suggests that the risk of bone fracture (due to osteoporosis) in adulthood could be determined partly by environmental factors during pregnancy and early childhood. A recent study investigated the effect of maternal vitamin D status during pregnancy on childhood skeletal growth.

In a longitudinal study, researchers studied 198 children born in 1991 and 1992. Body build, nutrition, and vitamin D status of the mothers were examined during pregnancy, and the children were examined at age 9 to correlate the original maternal characteristics to their current body size and bone mass.

Forty-nine (31%) mothers had insufficient vitamin D levels, while another 28 (18%) had deficient levels during late pregnancy. Inadequate vitamin D in mothers during late pregnancy was associated with reduced whole-body and lumbar spine bone mineral content in children at age 9.

Maternal vitamin D insufficiency is common during pregnancy and now looks to be associated with reduced bone-mineral accumulation in offspring during childhood. Vitamin D supplementation of pregnant women, especially during winter months, could lead to improved bone health and a long-term reduction in the risk of osteoporosis in their children.

Source: Maternal vitamin D status during pregnancy and childhood bone mass at age 9 years: a longitudinal study, Javaid et al, Lancet 2006 Jan 7;367(9504):36-43

Fatty meals cause inflammation of your arteries‏

Studies have shown that when you eat a meal including an Egg McMuffin, potato cakes, and a side of sausage, your arteries literally go into spasm for about 4 to 5 hours. A meal that contains a lot of saturated and trans fats causes a significant inflammation of the fine lining of your arteries. This inflammation literally leads to spasm of your arteries. These studies were done with the use of ultrasound checking the radial artery or the artery in the wrist.

How does a fatty meal like this actually cause inflammation of your arteries? When you eat a meal loaded with what I refer to as “bad” fat, the amount of fat in your blood stream goes up significantly and this causes an excessive release of free radicals. The free radicals irritate the fine lining of your arteries and cause an inflammatory response and spasm. Researchers realized this when they would give their participants vitamin C and vitamin E in supplementation and then have them eat a fatty meal. Their arteries would only go into spasm for 4 to 5 minutes. The antioxidants (vitamin C and vitamin E) were able to quench the free radicals before they could cause any irritation to the lining of your arteries.

Source: Dr. Strand Health Nuggets (newsletter@Bionutrition.org)

Lowering homocysteine levels‏

Most people seem to know their cholesterol level; however, they rarely know their homocysteine levels. Physicians just do not order this test routinely. The homocysteine level should be below 7, and higher levels cause greater risks of developing cardiovascular disease. Even though physicians may tell you that a homocysteine level of 12 or lower is fine, I would encourage you to try to get this level below 7. First, I would recommend taking 1,000 mcg of folic acid, 50 to 150 mg of vitamin B12, and 25 to 50 mg of vitamin B6. If you are one of those individuals who does not totally respond to B vitamins, you can consider adding Betaine (Trimethylglycine or TMG) to reduce your homocysteine levels. I recommend starting with 1 gram daily and building up to as much as 5 to 6 grams if necessary to get your homocysteine level down below 7, or at least below 8.

There have now been over 50 clinical trials that have shown that those individuals who have elevated homocysteine levels are not only at higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease but also Alzheimer’s dementia and various cancers. Yet, there have not been any good studies showing that lowering your homocysteine levels actually decreases your risk of heart disease and stroke. My personal feeling is that they do not lower the homocysteine level enough and that there is very little difference between the control subjects and the treated group. Since we know that elevated homocysteine levels are definitely a risk factor for patients, wouldn’t it be best to lower their homocysteine levels to the safe range? If you would like to know your homocysteine level and your doctor will not order it, members of my “Online Medical Practice” located at http://www.drraystrand.com/ can order this blood test in the US through my web site.

Source: Dr. Strand Health Nuggets (newsletter@Bionutrition.org)

Fish oil intake during pregnancy may be associated with lower asthma incidence during childhood

New research has shown a significant correlation between fish oil intake during pregnancy and asthma incidence during childhood. Children whose mothers supplemented with fish oil during pregnancy were significantly less likely to be diagnosed with childhood asthma than children from non-supplementing mothers.

Current evidence suggests that asthma development may be associated with maternal intake of marine omega-3 fatty acids during pregnancy. A recent study was conducted to examine whether an increase in omega-3 fatty acid intake during pregnancy could affect risk of asthma in their offspring.

A population-based sample of 533 women with normal pregnancies were randomly assigned 2:1:1 to receive either four one-gram fish oil capsules/day providing 2.7 grams of omega-3 fatty acids, four similar looking one-gram capsules/day with just olive oil, or no capsules at all.

During the 16 years that passed since childbirth, the rate of asthma incidence was reduced by 63% and the rate of allergic asthma was reduced by 87% in the fish oil group as compared to the olive oil group.

Assuming that the intake of olive oil had no significant influence one way or another, these results support the theory that increased fish oil omega-3 fatty acid supplementation in late pregnancy may provide important preventive potential in relation to childhood asthma development. Additional studies on this subject are currently in progress, which should shed more light on the mechanism behind this promising discovery.

Source: Fish oil intake compared with olive oil intake in late pregnancy and asthma in the offspring: 16 y of registry-based follow-up from a randomized controlled trial, Olsen et al, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 88, No. 1, 167-175, July 2008

Homocysteine a major cause of inflammation of your arteries‏

Homocysteine is a by-product of protein metabolism (methionine). Dr. Kilmer McCully, a pathologist and researcher, noted two children (one age 3 and one age 6) who died because of suffering a heart attack. These children had a disease called homocystinuria. They were born with a genetic defect that did not allow them to break down homocysteine into more benign products. Therefore, these children had extremely high homocysteine levels. This led Dr. McCully to postulate that normal people who had moderately elevated levels of homocysteine over a lifetime would possibly be at a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

We now realize that even mildly elevated homocysteine levels cause significant inflammation of our arteries. In fact, nearly 15% of the heart attacks and strokes are are caused by too much homocysteine in your blood. This is truly sad when you realize that the main reason homocysteine levels are high in some individuals is because they have an underlying vitamin B deficiency. By taking folic acid, vitamin B12, and vitamin B6 in supplementation at optimal levels, you can reduce homocysteine levels to a very safe range nearly 70% of the time. For just pennies a day you can eliminate one of the major causes of inflammation of your arteries.

Source: Dr. Strand Health Nuggets (newsletter@Bionutrition.org)

Fish oil is more effective in reducing heart attacks than are statin drugs‏

One of the “claims to fame” for the statin drugs is the fact that clinical trials have shown that they reduce the risk of having a heart attack. As I mentioned in a previous “Health Nugget,” researchers are not sure whether this is the result of lowering the cholesterol or because of the natural anti-inflammatory properties. In 2005, a clinical trial reported in the Archives of Internal Medicine compared people who took statin drugs with those who just took fish oil capsules. Both these groups were compared to a control group that took a placebo. One of the amazing characteristics of fish oil is that it contains large amounts of essential fats. These fats are the healthy, good fats that not only lower cholesterol and raise the HDL or good cholesterol, but they also significantly decrease inflammation in our bodies including our arteries.

The statin group decreased mortality by 10% over the placebo group; however, the fish oil group decreased mortality by 20% over the placebo group. In other words, the participants who took the fish oil capsules had twice the benefit of those who took the statin drugs. Reducing inflammation is the key to reducing your risk of having a heart attack, which is one of the main causes of death today. Since fish oil capsules pose absolutely no risk to the participant, it is certainly a great idea to supplement a healthy diet with purified, pharmaceutical-grade fish oil capsules.

Source: Dr. Strand Health Nuggets (newsletter@Bionutrition.org)

First-Step Therapy‏

As a class of drugs, statin drugs are one of the most prescribed medications in the world. Even though the medical community is encouraged to offer patients a trial of healthy lifestyles as first-step therapy in decreasing elevated cholesterol levels, physicians usually give this recommendation lip service and just go ahead and write the prescription. They most likely feel that patients will not make any lifestyle changes to lower their cholesterol, or even if they do, these new lifestyles will not be clinically effective. However, in my clinic I offer all my patients a 12-week trial of healthy lifestyles before they consider taking any medication. Clinical trials using my 12-week internet wellness program have shown an average decrease in total cholesterol of 17%, an average decrease of LDL cholesterol of 20%, and a 27% decrease of triglyceride levels. Pharmaceutical companies would love to have these kinds of results.

Stain drugs have been approved by the FDA as second-step therapy. When you see a statin drug like Lipitor, Zocor, or Crestor advertised on TV, note that advertisers always say that when diet and exercise have failed to lower your cholesterol enough, you should try their medications. The reason that they do this is because this is how they are approved by the FDA. My 12-Week Healthy for Life Program is definitely a first-step therapy. Check it out at www.releasingfat.com. When you combine a healthy diet, modest exercise, and high-quality nutritional supplementation, you give yourself the absolute best chance of avoiding medication or decreasing your dependence on medication.

Source: Dr. Strand Health Nuggets (newsletter@Bionutrition.org)

Nursing and Nutrition – The Knowledge Gaps

Nurses and other health professionals are looked upon as authorities in areas of health, of which nutrition is an important aspect. The food we eat must nourish us and provide us with enough nutrients so that we are not best by illness and ailments. Nutrition thus plays an important role in the case of recovering invalids who are recuperating and regaining their strength. While nourishment is necessary to all people, there are a few areas where it’s more important than others.

· Pediatrics: It’s important for both newborns and children that they are provided with the right nutrients in the right amounts so that they grow up strong and healthy. Breast milk has been proven to have all the nutrients that newborns need and provides them with a strong immune system as they grow into adulthood. Nurses, with the support of pediatricians, must advise lactating mothers on the importance of breast feeding their babies. Research has showed though that most health professionals do not bother to communicate with their patients about the benefits of the right kind of nutrition, either before the baby is born or after. Most nurses are also unaware that they need to provide support and training for first-time mothers as they attempt to breastfeed their babies. They need to be taught to hold the baby comfortably and sit or lie down in positions that are both comfortable and convenient.

· Rural practice: Nurses who practice in a rural setting are often called upon to provide services in a whole range of disciplines. They often act in the capacity of general care giver rather than practice a specialized branch of medicine as their urban counterparts do. People who are isolated from mainstream society need to be educated about the benefits of eating the right food. Nurses are positioned perfectly to provide this education, but with lack of proper training and incentive, they do not often go beyond the call of duty.

· Schools: School nurses are responsible for more than just bandaging the occasional cut and providing the odd vaccine. They must take an active interest in what’s being served at the school cafeteria and encourage the provision of healthy wholesome foods as opposed to fat-filled junk food and salty processed snacks. But with the lackadaisical attitude of school authorities, most school nurses are not too bothered about what nutrients the children are getting.

The nutrition knowledge gaps in nursing are more a result of apathy and nonchalance rather than ignorance of any kind. The need of the hour is the right kind of attention and efforts expended in empowering nurses to ensure that people are aware of the benefits of eating nutritious food.

This article is contributed by Sarah Scrafford, who regularly writes on the subject of Midwife Nursing Degrees. She invites your questions, comments and freelancing job inquiries at her email address: sarah.scrafford25@gmail.com.

Prenatal zinc supplementation influences lean tissue growth in infants

A double-blind study recently published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed a significant positive correlation between supplemental zinc during pregnancy and infant growth throughout the first year of life.

It has been suggested that maternal zinc intake influences growth in utero and in the first stages of growth after birth. In a recent study, researchers assessed the effect of maternal zinc supplementation during pregnancy as well as its effects on infant growth during the first twelve months.

A randomized, double-blind, controlled trial of prenatal zinc supplementation was conducted among women in Lima, Peru between 1995 and 1997. Women enrolled during the second trimester and were assigned to receive daily supplements with zinc (15 mg zinc + 60 mg iron + 250 mcg folic acid) or without zinc (just 60 mg iron + 250 mcg folic acid) through pregnancy to one month after delivery. At birth, 546 infants were followed for 12 months to assess growth. Measurements were collected monthly while health status and dietary intake were monitored weekly.

Infants born to mothers supplemented with zinc had significantly larger average growth measures beginning at 4 months and continuing through month 12. Prenatal zinc was associated with greater weight, calf circumference, chest circumference, and calf muscle area.

In this population of women, zinc supplementation during pregnancy resulted in children with better growth measures (which were in turn associated with healthy increases in lean tissue mass).

Source: Maternal zinc supplementation and growth in Peruvian infants, Iannotti et al, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 88, No. 1, 154-160, July 2008

Should I be Taking a Statin Drug to Lower my Cholesterol?

About 2 years ago, a panel of 11 cardiologists met (as reported in USA Today) to lower the recommended level of LDL cholesterol from 130 to 100. Obviously, the pharmaceutical industry was ecstatic with these new recommendations. However, it should not have come as a surprise to them, since 10 of the 11 cardiologists were on the payroll of one of the pharmaceutical companies. The problem with this recommendation is that nearly 98% of the population in the US and Canada has an LDL cholesterol level greater than 100. These recommendations would mean that nearly the entire population should take statin drugs. The New York Times reported that maybe statin drugs should be placed in our drinking water.

Several clinical trials show that individuals who are at risk of developing heart disease can decrease this risk by taking statin drugs. The problem is that researchers are not really sure if it is the lowering of cholesterol that lowers the risk or if it is the anti-inflammatory properties of the statin drugs. I believe that it is probably a combination of both of these effects. If you lower LDL cholesterol, there is just less that is available to become oxidized. Just like aspirin has been shown to decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease due to its anti-inflammatory qualities (it all starts to make sense doesn’t it), the statin drugs do the same. However, I have always believed that we should use drugs as a last resort and not a first choice. Statin drugs are truly over prescribed.

Source: Dr. Strand Health Nuggets (newsletter@Bionutrition.org)

Should I be Taking a Statin Drug to Lower my Cholesterol?

About 2 years ago, a panel of 11 cardiologists met (as reported in USA Today) to lower the recommended level of LDL cholesterol from 130 to 100. Obviously, the pharmaceutical industry was ecstatic with these new recommendations. However, it should not have come as a surprise to them, since 10 of the 11 cardiologists were on the payroll of one of the pharmaceutical companies. The problem with this recommendation is that nearly 98% of the population in the US and Canada has an LDL cholesterol level greater than 100. These recommendations would mean that nearly the entire population should take statin drugs. The New York Times reported that maybe statin drugs should be placed in our drinking water.

Several clinical trials show that individuals who are at risk of developing heart disease can decrease this risk by taking statin drugs. The problem is that researchers are not really sure if it is the lowering of cholesterol that lowers the risk or if it is the anti-inflammatory properties of the statin drugs. I believe that it is probably a combination of both of these effects. If you lower LDL cholesterol, there is just less that is available to become oxidized. Just like aspirin has been shown to decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease due to its anti-inflammatory qualities (it all starts to make sense doesn’t it), the statin drugs do the same. However, I have always believed that we should use drugs as a last resort and not a first choice. Statin drugs are truly over prescribed.

Source: Dr. Strand Health Nuggets (newsletter@Bionutrition.org)

Oxidized or Modified LDL Cholesterol‏

Native or natural LDL cholesterol is not a concern when it comes to heart disease. It acts as a transport vehicle of cholesterol. However, when this LDL cholesterol becomes modified or oxidized by excessive free radicals, it causes a tremendous amount of inflammation of our arteries. Fat soluble antioxidants like vitamin E, beta carotene, and alpha lipoic acid have the ability to incorporate themselves within the wall of the LDL cholesterol and offer protection against this oxidative process. The medical literature shows that the higher the level of antioxidants within the wall of the LDL cholesterol, the more it is able to resist this damage by excessive free radicals. Dr. Daniel Steinberg reported in the New England Journal of Medicine in 1989 that if enough antioxidants were on board, LDL cholesterol levels would not be a concern.

The problem is that physicians are not able to measure “Oxidized” LDL cholesterol levels in the lab. This is primarily research done in clinical trials. Physicians just measure total LDL cholesterol. This is why I believe it is so important to supplement all of these antioxidants and their supporting nutrients at optimal levels (cellular nutrition) to best protect your LDL cholesterol and decrease inflammation of your arteries.

Source: Dr. Strand Health Nuggets (newsletter@Bionutrition.org)

Vitamin D insufficiency common among breast cancer survivors

New research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed a correlation between vitamin D levels and various stages of breast cancer development.

Vitamin D influences pathways related to cancer development, but little is currently known about vitamin D status in breast cancer survivors. Recent data taken from the Health, Eating, Activity and Lifestyle (HEAL) study showed a correlation between vitamin D status and breast cancer survivors. Vitamin D concentrations from 790 female breast cancer survivors were obtained and vitamin D insufficiency was found in 597 individuals - or 75% of participants. Average vitamin D concentrations were even lower among African American and Hispanic women.

Controlling for various factors such as body mass index (BMI), race/ethnicity, geography, season, physical activity, diet, and cancer treatments showed that stage of disease independently predicted vitamin D levels.

In this group of breast cancer survivors the prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency was abnormally high. Based on these results, health professionals and clinicians should consider monitoring vitamin D status in breast cancer patients in addition to administering appropriate cancer treatments.

Source: Vitamin D insufficiency in a multiethnic cohort of breast cancer survivors, Neuhouser et al, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 88, No. 1, 133-139, July 2008

What Causes Inflammation of Our Arteries?‏

The first question people should ask themselves is "What actually causes inflammation of my arteries?" If heart disease and aging of my arteries are results of low-grade inflammation over a prolonged period of time, then it would make logical sense to try to avoid those things that cause that inflammation.

Dr. Ross listed several different causes of inflammation of our arteries in his review article found in the New England Journal of Medicine:

· "Oxidized" or "Modified" LDL cholesterol-NOT native LDL cholesterol
· Excessive free radicals created by high blood pressure, diabetes, central obesity, elevated or rapidly rising blood sugars, and from a fatty meal.
· Elevated homocysteine levels (this is a byproduct of protein metabolism that is primarily the result of vitamin B deficiency).
· Elevated levels of insulin due to insulin resistance.

When I treat a patient who has suffered a heart attack or has had coronary by-pass surgery, my goal is to eliminate all the causes of inflammation.

The next several "Health Nuggets" will discuss this health concept.

Source: Dr. Strand Health Nuggets (newsletter@Bionutrition.org)